X-life bearings for screw drives provide 33% increase in operating life
29/04/2014 Schaeffler (UK) Ltd
Precision bearing manufacturer Schaeffler has launched an X-life range of double row axial angular contact ball bearings for screw drives. The new optimised bearings benefit from a 10% increase in basic dynamic load rating, resulting in a 33% increase in nominal operating life.Screw drives are suitable for a variety of machine building, automation, handling and automotive engineering applications. Screw drives comprise a threaded spindle and threaded nut. Due to the rotation of the spindle, the nut moves in a linear manner along the spindle, converting the rotary motion of the drive into linear motion. A screw drive is rigidly connected to the adjacent construction, providing axial displacement or positioning of the component. The screw drive can be subjected to high dynamic loads.
Schaeffler's new ZKLN and ZKLF range of X-life double row axial angular contact ball bearings offer a variety of technical advantages over their predecessors.
By using new production technologies, Schaeffler has optimised the entire contact face between the rolling elements and raceway. As a result of increased raceway accuracy and quality, there is also a significant reduction in the stress conditions present on the rolling elements and raceway under the same load conditions. This improved quality reduces friction in the bearing resulting in lower bearing temperatures, reduced running resistance, less strain on the lubricant and the grease operating life. In addition, where applicable, required relubrication intervals are now extended. As a result of reduced friction, there is a simultaneous increase in the energy efficiency of the bearings, while energy consumption and operating costs are also reduced.
Due to these technical improvements, the basic dynamic load rating is approximately 10% higher than the previous standard bearings. This improvement also leads to an increase in the basic rating life of up to 33%. As a result, the operating life of the bearings is extended under identical operating conditions. Alternatively, if the rating life values remain the same, higher loads can be applied to the bearings. This gives engineers more design freedom and creates new possibilities for the design of the bearings.
Optimised heat treatment
As well as improvements to bearing contact surfaces, the bearing rings are now manufactured from a special, heat treated material. As a result, the raceways of the inner and outer rings are now more resistant to solid particulates under mixed friction conditions. This in turn extends the operating life, as less strain is now placed on the lubricant.
60% higher limiting speeds
Reduced bearing friction and an associated reduction in heat generated in the bearings enables significantly higher limiting speeds. Compared to standard and competing bearings - and depending on the permissible heat generation associated with the application - up to 60% higher speeds can be achieved with X-life ZKLN/ZKLF bearings. This also enables axial angular contact ball bearings to be used in applications with significantly higher speed requirements.
For more information, please contact:
Schaeffler (UK) Ltd
Forge Lane
Minworth
Sutton Coldfield
West Midlands
B76 1AP.
Tel: +44 121 313 5870
Fax: +44 121 351 7686
Email: info.uk@schaeffler.com
Web: www.schaeffler.co.uk
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